Z88 FPGA running!
With the help of Frederic, a complete rewrite of the Z88 FPGA Verilog implementation has been done. The machine works beautifully at 6.125 MHz on a DE1 board (old Cyclone II FPGA). OZ is entering a new era...
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Hi Cesar, We're going to use this board in the future (rPi0-style): https://hackaday.io/project/13048-flea-ohm-fpga-project
It's so tiny..
So this means that the OS is not emulated but it is really running on the machines as it was a Zilog? If so, it would be fantastic to have a backlit Z88 stylish screen! Not having a backlight on my Z88 is still a problem for me working in the evening without bright light.
Keep us informed anyway, it could be a new way to have the old computers (Amiga, spectrum QL and yes Z88 ! ) live again.
Hi Benny,
Yes, what you see in the video is a FPGA development board, running a Cambridge Z88 machine, implemented in hardware using FPGA Verilog programming. It runs a 6Mhz Z80 CPU with partially implemented Blink chip (that implements 4Mb memory model, PS/2 keyboard and VGA video).
Its a project in deep development with many future improvements. We anticipate FPGA boards that will be in Raspberry Pi 0 form factor, that you can connect to a Hdmi monitor and USB keyboard. These boards will appear and that means you can purchase such a board and have a Z88 on your desk with a cute Hdmi monitor.
We have many wishes for this new FPGA-based machine; better resolution (640x480 / 800x480), 16bit bank switching (1Gb RAM!), faster serial port, full SD-card (FAT32) support (the Z88 machine system ROM will boot from the SD-card). PipeDream & all apps will then be able to load/save files directly from/to a big SD-card. Take out the card and out it in a desktop computer to import/export files..
With bigger screen resolution, imagine working in Pipedream, split windows or just two apps beneath each other (all just ideas).. monochrome games ported...
Ultimately, the dream will be fulfilled when we can utilize portable with FPGA technology, good e-ink screen and a much longer battery life. What are the odds?
Looks great!